Opening family

King's Pawn Game Lines and Variations

The King's Pawn Game family contains 38 named lines in this opening book, spanning ECO B00 to C44. Use this page as the map, then open individual lines for exact move orders and diagrams.

Named lines

ECO coverage

B00, B07, C20, C40, C44

ECO volume

B (semi-open games, especially Sicilian, Caro-Kann, Pirc, Alekhine, and related systems); C (open games after 1.e4 e5 plus the French Defense)

Shortest line

B00 King's Pawn Game: 1. e4

How to study this family

White

White should use the move order as a checkpoint: finish development, identify the central break, and compare the continuations below before memorizing moves.

Black

Black should ask what White is threatening in the center, then choose development moves that prepare a clean pawn break or a useful exchange.

Start with the shortest line, then branch to the variations that change the pawn structure or tactical target. Memorizing every branch before understanding the family plan is usually wasted work.

Main named lines

Deep theory branches

Start with the root line Drill this family